THE PERFECT SUMMER SALAD
Tuesday 06.18.13 
our amazing and talented friends juan and farra helped with the food for lou's birthday party (god i love them!). and when i was in panic mode and couldn't come up with an idea for a salad to serve with tacos they suggested a watermelon, watercress, pepita and cotija salad with a lime cilantro vinaigrette. genius, right? i left out the cotija to keep it dairy free but it's amazing with or without. light, refreshing, healthy, full of flavor and so easy to throw together! what else could you want from a summer salad? hope you love as much as i do. more after the jump! xx- sarah
INGREDIENTS:
1 bunch watercress
2 cups cubed watermelon
1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1/8 cup grapeseed oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1/2 lime
METHOD:
- if possible make the dressing in advance by combining the grapeseed oil, lime juice, sea salt, cilantro, and maple syrup. i added one extra solid pinch of salt at the end too, but taste and season to your preference!
- rinse and dry the watercress, combine in a large serving bowl with the watermelon and toss with the dressing.
- in a skillet toast the pepitas over medium heat with the juice of 1/2 lime and a solid pinch of salt
- add pepitas to salad and serve!
Reader Comments (19)
This is beautiful! I've made a similar salad with arugula, watermelon, and feta (not dairy free)--and I can't wait to try this version.
That looks Killer! I love adding sunflower seeds or flax seeds to salads - That little hint of nuttiness really adds to the flavors. <3
Yum! I love the mixture of fruit/ salad in the summertime. There is a Watermelon/ feta /mint salad I make biweekly in the summer - its so refreshing! This one looks even better!
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Ok, so I want to make this!!! But...where do you buy watercress? Do I need to go to the farmer's market? (dumb question, I know ; )
I love the idea of throwing some watermelon in a salad!! It adds such a gorgeous color to the salad...and it's so refreshing for the Summer :)
And a lime cilantro vinaigrette?! Two of my favorite things in life!! I'm going to have to try this one out!
This certainly does look like the perfect salad! Anything topped with pepitas has me sold!
Oh yum! We did a southern style bbq over the weekend and the salad we made was spinach, candied pecans, strawberries and goat cheese. We had a ton of leftover bbq, but that salad plate was licked clean!
Yummmm, I would have never thought of all of these flavor pairings. Thanks for the recipe!